10 Uses for Vanilla Pods
- Vanilla “Ice Cream”
- Make Infused Maple Syrup.
- Make a Flavoured Powdered Sugar.
- Make Vanilla Extract.
- Make Infused Salt.
- Make Vanilla Flavoured Coffee.
- Make a Vanilla Sugar Body Scrub.
- Make vanilla body powder.
What can I do with leftover vanilla pod?
- Vanilla Sugar & Salt. The most common use for spent beans is to dry them and bury them in a jar of sugar.
- Pierced & Poached Fruit. Pods—dried, or still fresh—are great for poaching fruit.
- Homemade Extract.
- Flavored Coffee & Tea.
- Bath Salts.
- Vanilla Oil.
Are vanilla pods edible?
In fact, the whole bean is edible and can be chopped up or grated into all sorts of dishes, including today’s mushroom soup. To make your own thrifty, but still potent, vanilla essence, collect empty pods in a small jar of vodka and keep it out of direct sunlight. Each time you add a pod, give the jar a shake.
How do you use whole vanilla pods?
Using the tip of a paring knife cut the bean lengthwise. Use the point or edge of the knife to scrape the seeds loose from the pod. If the recipe calls for a whole bean, do this on both sides of the split bean.
How many times can I use a vanilla pod?
Because a vanilla bean has a great deal of flavor, it can usually be reused several times before its aroma and taste are depleted. A great way to recycle a bean is to make vanilla sugar. Simply wash and dry the used bean thoroughly.
How long do vanilla pods last?
If stored correctly, vanilla beans can last anywhere from six months to three years without losing potency. While perfectly safe and usable, the quality in aroma, flavor and supple texture has been known to diminish after a year.
How long can vanilla beans stay in vodka?
You only need 2 ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using.
How do you get the beans out of a vanilla pod?
To remove the seeds from the bean, simply use a paring knife to slice the pod in half. Then, use the back of the knife to scrape the seeds away from the pod. What’s more is that the empty pod can also be used. Stick it in a jar of sugar, seal, and let sit for a week.
Can I eat vanilla beans raw?
Here’s the deal on nutrition with vanilla beans: you’ll need to opt for the whole beans and scrape the powder out (the pods aren’t as edible, though you can use them and they won’t hurt you), or you can buy vanilla bean powder (which is pre-scraped beans that you don’t have to fool with but much more pricey).
Can you boil vanilla pods?
Add pod too, to get the whole flavour. Bring to the boil, then remove from heat, cover and leave to stand for about 15 minutes, so that the milk absorbes the taste.
What part of the vanilla pod do I use?
For baking, we’re usually most interested in the tiny seeds inside the vanilla pod, but the pods themselves have a lot of flavor, too. You can use the scraped-out pods to infuse milk or cream with subtle vanilla flavor, or you can stick them in a jar of sugar to make vanilla-scented sugar.
How do you prepare a vanilla pod?
To prepare a vanilla pod and remove flavoursome seeds, start at hooked end and run a small sharp knife along length of pod to split the pod in half. 2. Holding hooked end secure against board, run back of knife down inside of each half, to scrape out seeds.
How much alcohol does a vanilla bean have?
Just remember this ratio: 6 vanilla beans per 8 ounces of alcohol. So if your jar is 12 ounces, use 9 vanilla beans. If it’s 16 ounces, use 12 beans. Pour your alcohol of choice on top.
What happens if you add too much vanilla extract?
Taste-wise, the result of adding too much vanilla extract to a recipe is an overwhelming vanilla/alcohol flavor and a bad aftertaste. If you’ve just added a little too much, you can counteract it by sweetening the recipe.
Can vanilla extract grow mold?
It can have the initial appearance of mold, but when you look closely you will see that it is actually the fatty vanillin oils being extracted. They will break down over time.
How do you store vanilla pods at home?
Store vanilla pods in a dark place at room temperature. Ideally in a temperature range between 15 – 25 degrees Celsius. Never refrigerate or freeze vanilla beans as this can dry out the pods and prevent the pods from continuing to cure.
Can vanilla beans mold?
Vanilla beans can become moldy, especially if they are stored in humid conditions. Fuzzy, spongy spots will appear on the beans. If you find these, you should discard the pod.
What alcohol makes the best vanilla extract?
Vodka
The FDA dictates that a pure vanilla extract needs to be at least 70 proof or 35% alcohol, and this makes Vodka an ideal choice for vanilla extraction. The biggest advantage of using Vodka is that it is odorless and tasteless, and it allows the full flavor of the vanilla to center stage.
How much is 1 vanilla bean?
Vanilla Bean Conversion Chart
| Vanilla Bean Equivalency to: | Vanilla Extract | Vanilla Powder |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 Whole Vanilla Bean | 1/4 tbsp | 1/2 tsp |
| 1/2 Whole Vanilla Bean | 1/2 tbsp | 1 tsp |
| 1 Whole Vanilla Bean | 1 tbsp | 2 tsp |
Do vanilla beans go bad in alcohol?
Store in a vodka filled airtight container
An excellent way of keeping your vanilla beans, moist and juicy for years without any mold growth is by storing them in a vodka filled airtight container. Alcohol being a natural preservative, doesn’t let the pods go bad and also helps retain the moisture within them.
How many times can vanilla beans be used to make vanilla extract?
Beans you’ve already used in a batch of extract can be reused in the next batch. When I siphoned off the vanilla extract from my 18 month batch, almost all of those beans went right back into the jar for the next batch. I simply added a few new beans to punch up the flavour.